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Does "normal" aging imply urinary, bowel, and erectile dysfunction? A general population survey.
Ida J Korfage1, Monique Roobol, Harry J de Koning
1Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. i.korfage@erasmusmc.nl
Urology
|April 4, 2008
Summary
Urinary and bowel dysfunction are not normal aging signs in men. Erectile dysfunction increases with age, but may have causes beyond aging. These findings help interpret treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Gerontology
- Men's Health
Background:
- Aging can affect urinary, bowel, and sexual function.
- Understanding age-related changes is crucial for men's health and treatment evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunction are normal aspects of aging in Dutch men.
- To establish a benchmark for urologic functioning in men relative to age.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire assessing dysfunction and bother in urinary, bowel, and sexual domains was mailed to randomly selected men.
- The Dutch version of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) was utilized.
Main Results:
- Urinary dysfunction prevalence was low and not significantly impactful with age. Bowel dysfunction and bother showed no age relation.
- Erectile dysfunction prevalence increased with age (12% to 26%), with use of aids linked to satisfaction, not age.
- Data from 3810 men (mean age 67) were analyzed.
Conclusions:
- Urinary and bowel dysfunction are not normal aging processes. Erectile dysfunction prevalence increases with age.
- In prostate cancer patients, declining function may stem from treatment, not age. Erectile dysfunction may have other causes.
- These findings provide a benchmark for assessing urologic function post-treatment relative to age-related changes.
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